The Oklahoma City Thunder prevailed over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship since the franchise relocated from Seattle. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co. are now expected to run it back next year with the shortest NBA odds on the board.
But there are 29 other teams that are trying for the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2026, too. The Nuggets are solidly in second place after a series of savvy offseason moves and Houston has rocketed into the Top 5 after acquiring 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant.
Let's dive into the latest NBA Championship odds as preseason action unfolds.
🏆 2026 NBA Championship odds
NBA Championship odds analysis
The Oklahoma City Thunder faced a greater challenge than some expected as the Indiana Pacers pushed them to a full seven games, but the money is just as green for those who backed OKC.
Game 7 did not even end before the first major offseason domino fell, however. The Phoenix Suns traded star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets hours before tip-off that day, and they are now listed as the second-choice in the 2026 NBA title betting.
The Suns remained busy by buying-out oft-injured guard Bradley Beal, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he'll form an intriguing troika with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Out East, the Indiana Pacers lost Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks, who in turn released Damian Lillard, who is likely to miss all of next season with an Achilles injury. The Bucks went from as long as +10000 to +4000 following the news.
Lillard has since signed a three-year, $42 million pact to return home to Portland, where he spent the first 11 years of his career. The future Hall of Famer is the Trail Blazers' all-time leader in points and 3-pointers made and attempted.
Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets saw their NBA Championship odds shift from +1600 to +750 following a flurry of moves that included swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson and Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas. The club remained busy by acquiring Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway via free agency to round out their depth chart. Denver is unlikely to retain Russell Westbrook, but that's hardly a big hit at this stage of his career as his athleticism continues to decline.
📈 2026 NBA Finals odds over time
Here's a visual representation of how the NBA championship has odds evolved since June 2025.
💰 Sportsbook betting splits and insights
Highest ticket percentage
• Nuggets 8.8%
• Thunder 8.7%
• Mavericks 8.2%
Highest handle percentage
• Thunder 17.9%
• Mavericks 16.3%
• Lakers 13.3%
Biggest liability
• Mavericks
• Lakers
• Warriors
2026 NBA Championship opening odds
- Thunder +230
- Knicks +900
- Pacers +900
- Timberwolves +1000
- Cavaliers +1100
- Rockets +1200
- Lakers +1600
- Spurs +1600
- Nuggets +1700
- Celtics +2000
- Warriors +2300
- Magic +2500
- Mavericks +4000
- Clippers +4000
- 76ers +4500
- Heat +5000
- Pistons +7000
- Bucks +7500
- Grizzlies +10000
- Raptors +15000
- Suns +17000
- Kings +20000
- Pelicans +20000
- Nets +25000
- Hawks +30000
- Bulls +40000
- Trail Blazers +40000
- Wizards +60000
- Hornets +60000
- Jazz +60000
NBA Championship Odds FAQs
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites for the 2026 NBA title.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA title, defeating the Indiana Pacers 4-3 in the NBA Finals.
NBA Championship odds above are in American format, meaning a $100 bet at odds of +250 would profit $250 if it wins.
Oddsmakers at sportsbooks create odds to win the NBA Championship based on the team's implied probability to win the title. The team with the lowest odds has the best chance to win the NBA Championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers are available at around +1400 to +1500 to win the 2026 NBA title.
Odds typically update in real time based on playoff outcomes, injuries, and market movement.
Most legal sportsbooks offer NBA Finals futures, including bet365, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings.
